Starbucks Malaysia Celebrates 26th Anniversary with the Opening of its Fourth Signing Store

Starbucks Malaysia opened its fourth Signing Store in Permas City, Johor, seeking to redefine the café experience by fostering inclusivity, celebrating the talents of the Deaf and hard of hearing community, and creating an environment where everyone is welcome. This new store builds on the success of prior Signing Stores in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Sarawak.

Over the past 26 years, Starbucks Malaysia has championed equity, inclusion, and diversity, exemplified by its innovative Signing Store concept established in 2016. Starbucks Malaysia has long been dedicated to making a meaningful impact in its communities and continues to lead with Signing Stores dedicated to uplifting and supporting the Deaf and hard of hearing community.

What started with just one Deaf partner assisting at the Berjaya Times Square store has grown significantly. Starbucks Malaysia now employs over 20 Deaf partners (employees), nurtures over 11 Coffee Masters and four advanced Coffee Masters, and upskills five Deaf partners into supervisory roles. With the opening of the Permas City Signing Store, the company proudly promoted its long-time Deaf partner, Mohd Akmal, to store supervisor.

"When I joined Starbucks as a barista, I never thought I’d one day lead a team. Becoming a supervisor and being part of the opening team at the fourth Signing Store in Malaysia is a dream come true. I’m so thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to develop and show that the Deaf community can achieve great things," said Mohd Akmal.

As part of its efforts to uplift this community, Starbucks collaborates with Deaf artists who create unique art pieces that celebrate their talents and stories. Wong Jia Yaw, a Malaysian Deaf artist, created The Colors of Joy for this Signing Store. His painting celebrates Deaf culture and its journey, depicted by the growth of coffee cherries from green to vibrant red. Each stage symbolizes resilience, growth, and the uniqueness of Deaf culture. At the heart of the artwork are handshapes spelling “J.O.Y.” in sign language, reflecting connection, creativity, and the cultural pride of Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia (BIM), the native language of Malaysia's Deaf community.

“As we open our fourth Signing Store and the very first in the southern region, we are proud to continue expanding our mission of creating inclusive spaces and opportunities,” said Dato’ Sydney Quays, Group CEO of Berjaya Food Berhad and Managing Director of Starbucks Malaysia. “We are honored to establish this store in such a vibrant location and are excited to expand our Signing Store footprint, ensuring that more people across Malaysia can experience the inclusivity and connection these stores represent. We invite everyone to visit and be part of this meaningful journey.”

“This Signing Store represents a significant step forward in creating opportunities for the Deaf community in Johor. This initiative shines a spotlight on their unique talents and potential while building deeper connections within Johoreans. We are excited to see how this effort will enhance awareness and collaboration in support of the Deaf and hard of hearing community,” said Mohd Yazid Bain, President of Society Deaf of Johor (SDJO).